The Evolution of Tim Allen’s Legacy: How Matt in Shifting Gears Stands Apart

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Many criticize Tim Allen’s sitcoms for being too similar, but the Shifting Gears season 1 finale highlights one important character trait that changes with each new show he does. As much as Shifting Gears’ cast has been its biggest draw since the day of the series’ announcement, that’s also led to one of its biggest criticisms since before the show even aired. Tim Allen’s been fairly divisive since his Last Man Standing character spent half the series supporting a controversial political figure, and many had stopped watching by the time Baxter’s opinions began to shift gears slightly.

One of the biggest criticisms of Allen’s sitcom characters is that they’re all just grunting gearheads who force their opinions on others, but Shifting Gears’ season 1 ending calls that critique into question. In fact, closer inspection reveals that all three of Tim Allen’s sitcom roles have differed in one key area of their personalities. And the best part about Allen’s newest role is that, if Tim and his writers are willing to put in the effort, Matt Parker can continue to set himself apart even more in Shifting Gears season 2.

Shifting Gears Season 1 Finale Shows That Matt Is Willing To Let Riley Make Her Own Decisions

It’s Visibly Killing Him Not To Voice His Opinions

While much of the season 1 finale focuses on setting up Shifting Gears’ romance between Tim Allen’s Matt Parker and Jenna Elfman’s Eve, the primary conflict first introduced is that Jimmy finally has enough money to support Riley and the kids if she’s willing to take him back. Matt’s present when Jimmy makes this proposition, but he uncharacteristically keeps his opinions to himself for most of the episode. Riley, Eve, and even Matt himself all make mention of how unexpected it is for Matt to simply shrug and assert that Riley’s smart enough to figure things out on her own.

Apparently, this is a new development. Riley actually gets angry at Matt for refusing to share his opinion, claiming that he forced his opinions so far down her throat throughout most of her childhood that she practically suffocated. In the end, Matt does admit that he wants Riley to stay because he enjoys having her and the kids under his roof. But while Shifting Gears’ negative reviews affirm the common belief that Tim Allen only plays one character, Matt’s growth in keeping silent about Riley’s decision calls attention to the biggest difference between Tim Allen’s various sitcom dads.

Matt’s Parenting Approach Is Different From Tim Allen’s Other TV Dad Characters

Imagine Mike Baxter Keeping This Quiet About Ryan

Out of Tim Allen’s three sitcoms, the clearest similarities are likely between Shifting Gears and Last Man Standing. In both series, Tim plays a curmudgeonly conservative who’d sooner eat chalk than let his opinions go unvoiced. But Matt’s willingness to let Riley make her own decision about Jimmy shows a clear difference between him and Last Man Standing’s Mike Baxter. Mike never missed a chance to let his oldest know how thoroughly he disapproved of her liberal lover, and that really didn’t change until the later seasons when Mike came to respect Ryan as a provider.

Meanwhile, Home Improvement’s Tim Taylor wasn’t very similar to either character. Not only was he much less political, but Taylor also showed less capacity for long-term growth. He always meddled, always bungled it, and always had to ask Wilson for advice afterward. Considering the three shows have gone out of their way to establish a Tim Allen shared universe in which each character exists, it’s fair that they shouldn’t be carbon copies of each other. But the fact that they specifically differ in their approach to parenting sets up how Matt can become the unique of them all.

How Shifting Gears Can Continue Setting Matt Apart From His Predecessors

Matt’s Relationship With Carter & Georgia Can Lead To More Growth

There are several theories on how to improve Tim Allen’s character in his newest sitcom. One compelling theory is that Shifting Gears’ Matt Parker needs a friend. However, the even better route is to have Matt’s character grow through his relationships with grandkids Carter and Georgia. He’s already made attempts to share their interests, such as video games and weed gummies. That’s a thin start, but it’s not hard to continue building from there. Having Matt start to make references to fashion or robotics would go a long way toward showing how his grandchildren have helped him become more open-minded.

Or, if the series decides to use outside influences like Eve or various friends to build Matt’s character, there’s a chance for new faces to lend assistance. Nancy Travis’ character helped Matt when he was in the thick of his grief on Valentine’s Day, and it seems likely, based on Tim Allen’s history, that Shifting Gears will continue including Last Man Standing cameos that could fulfill similar roles. Either way, the fact that he’s already grown significantly in the first season shows that, with just a little effort, Matt could easily become the most dynamic of Allen’s characters to date.

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